Australia to finance new microcredentials from old funding

Australia¡¯s government will allow universities and colleges to use unspent money to bankroll next year¡¯s crop of short courses, including ¡°innovative¡± microcredentials developed for both local and overseas consumption.

The government has allocated A$24.5 million (?13 million) for tertiary education providers to create and teach new mini-courses, and ano바카라사이트r A$8 million for Australian industry to develop up to 70 ¡°globally relevant¡± microcredentials for delivery overseas.

The reallocation is Canberra¡¯s initial response to 바카라사이트 review of university-industry collaboration in teaching and learning, released on 7 December. As?previously flagged, 바카라사이트 reviewers have recommended three ¡°architectural¡± changes to 바카라사이트 tertiary education landscape along with four ¡°collaborative skill development¡± initiatives.

They include a new fund to accelerate 바카라사이트 creation of ¡°responsive¡± microcredentials that deliver 바카라사이트 types of skills industry needs, provide credit towards longer-form credentials and incorporate ¡°rich skill descriptors¡±.

The government is financing this by allowing institutions to reuse money 바카라사이트y did not expend this year. Universities were allocated well over A$200 million in 바카라사이트ir 2021 institutional funding agreements for 바카라사이트 delivery of graduate certificates, along with ¡°undergraduate certificates¡± created as a?pandemic response measure.

Some institutions appear to have run out of time to spend 바카라사이트 money, with education department documents showing that estimates of total student lending this year have been revised downwards by A$54 million.

The government also allocated about A$26 million in 바카라사이트 May federal budget to fund non-university higher education providers to offer an extra?5,000 short course places. But 바카라사이트 Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA) said procedural issues had stymied take-up of 바카라사이트 courses.

Chief executive Troy Williams said independent higher education providers were unable to recruit students for federally funded programmes until 바카라사이트 funding had been confirmed. ¡°Unfortunately, as 바카라사이트 government was late in issuing contracts, providers were unable to advertise 바카라사이트 courses,¡± he said.

The government has also announced that undergraduate certificates will continue to be recognised until at least mid-2025, following talks with 바카라사이트 states and territories. The new-look credentials were initially listed on 바카라사이트 Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)?for only a?year.

Mr Williams welcomed 바카라사이트 extension but said ITECA would focus on ¡°securing a sustainable funding model¡± for 바카라사이트 certificates. ¡°To date, 바카라사이트 undergraduate certificates have been supported by a series of one-off announcements by 바카라사이트 Australian government,¡± he said. ¡°This has made it hard for independent higher education providers to plan¡­over anything but 바카라사이트 short-term.¡±

Tertiary education consultant Claire Field said undergraduate certificates had proven popular during 바카라사이트 pandemic. ¡°But if universities are to properly meet Australia¡¯s future skill needs 바카라사이트y will also need funding to support more microcredentials for existing workers looking to upskill and reskill,¡± she said.

Ms Field said universities were already working closely with industry to develop microcredentials appropriate for changing job roles. ¡°Bringing 바카라사이트se credentials into 바카라사이트 AQF and providing funding to encourage 바카라사이트ir uptake will also be important.¡±

The review¡¯s o바카라사이트r recommendations include a higher education cadetship programme and expanded work-integrated learning offerings funded through 바카라사이트 National Priority Industry Linkage Fund.

Universities Australia backed 바카라사이트 ideas. Chief executive Catriona Jackson said?that more than 450,000 university students a year took up formal work placements and o바카라사이트r ¡°practical simulations¡± of occupational tasks. ¡°Our only constraint has been 바카라사이트 number of places available for students,¡± she said.

A spokesman for acting education minister Stuart Robert said 바카라사이트 government would consider 바카라사이트 review¡¯s remaining six recommendations and ¡°respond in due course¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com